'Euphoria' Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Near-dead Nate in focus in a sex-filled chapter
The second episode of 'Euphoria' picks up right where the Season 2 opener left off: The party where Fez (Angus Cloud) thumped Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi) nearly to death. The latter, despite being badly banged up manages to pull through after he's put into the hospital. Rue (Zendaya) narrates the episode focusing on Nate for the major part and then moving on to a few other characters. Needless, to say, in its usual 'Euphoria' style, the episode packs generous dollops of sex and teen drama to make for an intriguing watch.
What makes Rue's narration doubtful is the fact that she remembers these details with precise memory — something that a seldom-sober addict would lack. But she does tell quite the story. Nate's in love with Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) now. Sure, he was with Maddy (Alexa Demie), but Cassie's the one — to the extent, he pictures starting a family with her. He also imagines his father dying and also gets his mind back on the recording his father has of him hooking up with Jules (Hunter Schafer) Twisted, no? Adding to this is the fact that Elliot (Dominic Fike), with who Rue did drugs, now knows Jules and things get even weirder.
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The toxicity that stems as consequences from some of the decisions these teens make forms the crux of the episode. Cassie, after having some steamy restroom sex with Nate, now gets mighty awkward around Maddy. Cassie decides to stay single and yet doesn't want to be completely single. Also getting some screentime is Kat (Barbie Ferreira) and her relationship with Ethan (Austin Abrams). Rue tells us that Kat thinks Ethan is sweet, but their relationship comes in with a fair share of fantasy as well, in a very 'Game of Thrones' way, as she imagines having sex with a Dothraki warrior who impales Ethan.
'Euphoria' does what it does best. It gives an in-depth look at teens with complex lives and equally complex relationships. What makes them relatable is the fact that these are in fact possible. Moving back to drama, Kat's relationship isn't as flowery as she claims to be. Clearly, they're having intimacy issues and that reflects in the fact that she imagines the Dorathki with an unusually huge penis. As far as the Maddy-Cassie-Nate triangle goes, the duo hooking up and conveniently ignoring Maddy's calls makes her suspicious.
There's a lot going on in 'Euphoria'.
'Euphoria' airs Mondays at 9 pm ET on HBO.